Vibrato stringed musical instrument



Nov. 15, 1932. .1. N. NOVOTNY VIBRATO STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Vovofrz ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 1932. N NOVQTNY 1,888,140

VIBRATO STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY glNvENToR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN N. NOVOTNY, OF EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA VIBRATO STIR-INGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application. filed September 3, 1830. Serial No. 479,573.

This invention relates to improvements in minor changes may be made so long as they stringed musical instruments and more parfall within the scope of the claims. ticularly to violins of the type embodying In describing my invention in detail, ref- Vibrgtgry finger b d h b a vibrato ei'ence will be had to the accompanying drawton a b dil d d even b a vings, wherein like characters denote like or i e, a d th i v ti tit t an i corresponding parts throughout the several proveinent over the instrument disclosed in Vi ws, and in which: my P t nt #1,?21A68, issued July 16, 1929. Fv gure 1 is a view in side elevation of a One of the objects of the present invention V lln embodying the improvement of the 19 is to provide a violin having a yieldably P sent invention.

mounted finger board connected to blocks Figure 2 iS a plan View of a portion of the which are held in position, relative to the fin- 11691? nd linger board of the Violin. ger b d, b an i d means, ithi F1gure 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional the purview of the present invention and V1.8WV taken substantially 01 1 the line Of which greatly simplifies the construction of Flgure 2, looklng 111 the dllection indicated such means and renders the same more simy h Y pie and more convenient to manufacture and g 4 18 Vertlcal transverse sectlonal likewise requires less time for its installa- Y ohthe hhe of Figure looking tion in connection with the other associated 111 the threctioh indicated y the arrowsparts of the instrument, the invention also Figure 5 1S a l W 011 1 70 contemplating, in this connection, a means to of Flgul'e 3 tooklng 1n the dlrectloh lhdlcated yieldably support the finger board, which y h EITTOYVS- means will consist of fewer parts than those t 6 1S a h h Y Oh t present in my patented Structure, these pan of Figure 3,1ook1ng in the direction indicated ticular parts, as will presently be made apy the 2111" parent, constituting a material improvement Flgute 7 1s a P of the finger board in the instrument. t

Another obiect of the invention is to pro- Figure 8 1S a transverse Sectlonal new on 0 vide means whereby the supporting means the l 0t F1gure,7- 0 u for the finger board may be adjusted so as to Figure 9 is a perspective View of the rider 8 render the rider of the means, which rider used. 111 conniictlon i the finger d will be presently specifically described. en- .Flgure 10 1S vertlcal transmits? sectlonat tirely silent thereby preventing the rider l taken Substantmny on the hne 10 10 v A p 9 from Vlbmtmg and Causmg. undeslmbie of bigure 0, looking in the direction indi- 85 noises due to its rapid contact with certain ZSiP- i W t d f th blocks which constitute a part of the finger for nti ls i 3 53 5 3 82 8 1 board supporting means. i 3 p 5 Another obiect of the invention is to prothe nger bqard' vide means for preventim the ride from be- -Flgure l2 a Vertlcal transverseesectlonal o comins): displaced to assi ime an undesirable l 1 o 12%12 (if i if 12 00 position during the vibration of the finoer 11 i i 3 di /L i J; H 1: U ftb f t 1 usia ingasiigi lTlO(1iCEIlOIlO es ruc- 39315: t- P 93 e 0 ehsvltltnen tuie shown in Figuie 12.

This invention also consists in certain Figure 14 i a ti l i on th li other features of construction and in the 14 f4 f Fi 3 95 combination and arrangement of the several I th d irings th Violin body is indicated parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illusin general by the numeral 1 and includes the trated in the accompanying drawings, and usual back 2, top 3 and sides 4 and mounted specifically pointed out in the appended at one end of the body is the usual headed claims, it being understood of course that pin 5 to which the tail piece 6 of the instru- 1 0 ment is connected by the usual means. From the other end of the body 1 there projects the usual neck 7 having the usual shoulder 8' which terminates in a head 9 constructed to form a peg box 10, and in this peg box are arranged the usual pegs 11, 12, 13, and 14 which are alternately offset in the head 9 so that the finger knobs thereof will be readily accessible for the purpose of tuning the strings of the instrument. Upon the head 9, at its juncture with the neck 7, is a saddle 15 over which the strings 16, 17, 18 and 19 are trained, these strings being further supported by a bridge 20 and connected to the tail piece 6, the strings being extended through slotted openings 21 in the tail piece and knotted and held in place in the customary manner. I

-The saddle 15 and bridge 20 are so formed and so arranged as to provide considerable space between the several strings, and the neck 7 and in this space there is arranged the usual finger board 22 which is resiliently attached to the neck 7 and head 9, and which is adapted to vibrate in consonance with the vibrations of the strings, in a direction toward and from the neck 7 The finger board 22 has secured to it, by means of rivets 22, resilient arms 25 and 26 which are adapted to seat on posts or blocks 27 and 28 and to be secured in place by screws 23 and 24, the said posts or blocks extending upwardly from the head 9 as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10, and the posts are braced by a cross piece 28.

The side walls of the peg box are recessed as indicated by the numerals 29 and 30 so as to receive the posts 27 and 28 respectively, and these posts are preferably secured in place by gluing or by any other suitable means, the posts 27 and 28 being so arranged as to normally hold the finger board 22 spaced above the neck 7 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, thereby allowing movement of the finger board toward and from the neck.

For supporting the finger board near its other end, the same is provided with a supporting yoke 31 as shown in Figure 6, having two arms 32 and 33, and this yoke has a threaded stud 34 which is fitted into the finger board 22, and this yoke is prevented from any rotative displacement by means of a block 35. The arms 32 and 33 are formed with grooves or slots 36 and 37 which slidably receive the side edges of a leaf sp 'ing 38 which is tapered in thickness, and this leaf spring is secured at its other end to the inner end of the neck 7 immediately above the shoulder 8 by means of screws 39 and 40 and extends along the under side of the finger board 22 to a short distance beyond the supporting yoke 31, and the screw 41 passes completely through the spring while the heads of the screws 39 and 40 engage the edges of the spring 38.

The spring 38 is engaged near its lower end by a cross bar 42 which is dove-tailed at the edges of the finger board 22 and bears down upon the said end of the spring to bow the spring toward the finger board throughout the major portion of its length. In this manner all play upon the ed es of the spring 38 in the grooved arms of the yoke 31 is taken up so that undesirable vibrations of the finger board for supporting the parts thereof during the playing of the violin is prevented. By reason of the above described structure and arrangement of parts, it will be understood that the finger board is snugly held against the posts 27 and 28 and is resiliently supported at both ends so that the same may be moved away from and toward the neck 7.

The violin is played in the usual manner and when it is desired to produce vibratory tones, this may be accomplished through vibration of the finger board which vibration results from repeated depression of the linger board by the fingers of the player at the time presure is exerted upon the strings of the instrument and thus imposes avarying degree of tension upon the particular string which produces the desired effect and the same results can be accomplished by using two or more fingers in playing double, triple and quadruple notes, it being merely necessary for the player to find the proper position and then to vibrate the finger board as pointed out above.

The invention contemplates 'a means for adjusting the device to vary the amplitude of vibration of the finger board {11H with this end in view I employ two riders 43 and 44, and these riders are respectively shown in Figure 9 and Figures 12 and 13. r The rider 43, shown in Figure 9, consists of 'a leaf spring arched in formation, and formed at its extremities to provide two inwardly directed bearing elements adapted to ride along the upper edges 10 of the peg boa: 10, and this rider 43 is adapted to ride along the resilient arms 25 and 26, and the rider 44 is, as shown in Figure 12, and also in Figure 13, designed to ride along the leaf spring 38. The portions 45 of the rider 43 serve to support the arms 25 and 26 by engagement with the under sides of said arms. When the rider 43 is in its extreme position of adjustment, adjacent the posts 27 and 28, it permits of the maximum fiexure of the resilient arms 25 and 26, thus adapting the instrument to deliver the greatest degree of vibration and,

when this rider is adjusted to position near the saddle 15, fiexure of the resilient arms is lessened and, when the rider occupies a position adjacent to the saddle,the inger board is held for movement and functions the same an ordinary violin finger board.

The rider 44, shown in detail in Figures 11, 12 and 13, is formed with a recess 46 which receives the leaf spring 38 and the rider is held in contact with the under surface of the finger board 22 by means of the bowed spring 44 as shown in detail in Figure 12, the spring engaging at its ends in grooves 61 in the finger board, and the said rider is formed with end portions indicated by the numerals 47 and 48, which project slightly beyond the edges of the finger board and by the means of which the rider may be grasped by the player and shifted along the spring 38.

Inasmuch as in my invention, the finger board is spaced from the neck of the violin, I find it desirable to employ reinforcing means which is best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. For this purpose, the neck is formed in its upper side with a longitudinal groove 49 in which is disposed a metallic reinforcing rib 50 which extends substantially through out the length of the neck. A recess 51, at the end of the rib 50 which end is adjacent the saddle 15, receives a wooden plug 52 which covers the end of the rib 50 and thus forms a wooden surface to which the saddle 15 may be glued. The rib 50 is formed in its upper edge and at its end which is nearest the body of the instrument, with a recess 53 which receives a plug 54 which includes a portion 55 extending throughout the entire depth of the groove 50 and which provides a suitable stock into which a screw 41 may be threaded for the purpose of attaching the spring 38 to the neck of the instrument and, in order to further stiffen the neck 7, I employ a cleat 57 which is relatively flat and which is glued to the upper surface of the neck and covers the rib 50, and this cleat is adapted to be received within a recess 58 which is formed in the under side of the finger board 22 as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In order to prevent the ends of the strings 16 and 19 from chaiiing, where they pass between the arms 25 and 26, the peg box is formed interiorly with two wood guards 59 and 60 which hold the said strings away from the edges of the arms 25 and 26.

The numeral 62 indicates cushions to prevent the finger board from hitting, or rattling against the top of the neck 7.

My invention is highly meritorious in that it provides an extremely simple device which may readily be applied to the less expensive violins to provide the desired vibratory tone. hen properly applied the violin has all of the dimensions of the ordinary violin and is played in the customary manner so that any player can play the instrument.

Although I have described my invention as applied to a violin, yet it can be readily comprehended that the same can be applied to any type of stringed musical instrument,

' and particularly to stringed instruments having a body portion and a neck attached thereto. I desire to have it understood that the changes in the specific form of my invention as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument of the class described, the combination with the body of the instrument, and the neck extending therefrom, of a saddle at the outer end of the neck, a finger board extending inwardly from the saddle and above the neck, resilient arms mounted at their forward ends upon the neck and extending beneath the finger board and yieldably supporting the same, at its forward portion, a leaf spring mounted, at one end upon the neck, at the inner end thereof, and a yoke upon the under side of the finger board adjacent the inner end thereof, the arms of the yoke being recessed to slidably receive the edges of the said leaf spring.

2. In a stringed musical instrument of the class described, the combination with the body of the instrument, the neck extending therefrom, of a saddle at the outer end of the neck, a finger board extending inwardly from the saddle and above the neck, resilient arms mounted at their forward ends upon the neck and extending beneath the finger board and yieldably supporting the. same, at its forward portion, a leaf spring mounted, at one end upon the neck, at the inner end thereof, a yoke upon the under side of the finger board adjacent the inner end thereof, the arms of the yoke being recessed to slidably receive the edges of the said leaf spring, and a cross bar upon the under side of the finger board bearing against the inner end of the said leaf spring, whereby to effect upward bowing of the said leaf spring toward the finger board and prevent play of the leaf spring in the recess of the yoke.

3. In a stringed musical instrument of the class described, the combination with the body of the instrument, the neck extending therefrom, of a saddle at the outer end of the neck, the said saddle having recesses in its opposite side edges, a finger board extending inwardly from the saddle and above the neck, resilient arms mounted at their forward ends upon the neck and extending beneath the finger board and yieldably supporting the same, at its forward portion, the said arms extending at opposite sides of the saddle and within the recesses therein, a leaf spring mounted, at one end upon the neck, at the inner end thereof, and a yoke upon the under side of the finger board adjacent the inner end thereof, the arms of the yoke being recessed to slidably receive the edges of the said leaf spring.

class described, the combination with the 5 the edges of the said leaf spring, a cross bar body of. the instrument, the neck extending therefrom, of a saddle at the outer end of the neck, a; finger board extending inwardly from the saddle and above the neck, resilient arms mounted at their forward ends upon the neck and extending beneath the finger board and yieldably supporting the same, at its forward portion, a leaf spring mounted, at one end upon the neck, at the inner end thereof, a yoke upon the under side of the finger board adjacent the inner end thereof, the arms of the yoke being recessed to slidably receive the edges of the said leaf spring, a cross bar upon the under side of the finger board bearing against the inner end of the said leaf spring, whereby to effect upward bowing of the said leaf spring toward the finger board and prevent play of the leaf spring in the recess of the yoke, and means for varying the amplitude of vibration of the finger board.

5. In a stringed musical instrument of the class described, the combination with the body of the instrument, the neck extending therefrom, of a saddle at the outer end of the neck, a finger board extending inwardly from the hollow peg box, resilient arms mounted at their forward ends upon the neck and extending beneath the finger board and yieldably supporting the same, at its forward portion, a leaf spring mounted, at one end upon the neck,at the inner end thereof, a yoke upon the under side of the finger board adjacent the inner end thereof, the arms of the yoke being recessed to slidably receive upon the under side of the finger board bearing against the inner end of the said leaf spring, whereby to effect upward bowing of the said leaf spring toward the finger board and prevent play of the leaf spring in the recess of the yoke and means for varying the amplitude of vibration of the finger board, the same means comprising a bowed resilient rider having inwardly directed bearing elements slidably engaging the upper edges of the peg box and slidable along the said resilient arms.

6. In a stringed musical instrument of the class described, the combination with the therefrom, of a saddle at the outer end of the neck, a finger board extending inwardly from the saddle and above the neck, resilient arms mounted at their forward ends upon the neck and extending beneath the finger board and yieldably supporting the same, at its forward portion, a leaf spring mounted, at one end upon the neck, at the inner end thereof, a yoke upon the under side of the finger board adjacent the inner end thereof, the arms of the yoke being recessed to slidably receive the edges of the said leaf spring, a cross bar upon the under side of the finger board bearing against the'inner end of the said leaf spring, whereby to effect upward bowing of the said leaf spring toward the finger board and prevent play of the leaf spring in the recess of the yoke, and means for varying the amplitude of vibration of the finger board, the said means comprislng a bowed resilient member havingend porthroughout the extent thereof, and independent means for varying the amplitude of said movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN N. NOVOTN Y.

body of the instrument, the neck extending 

